Uncovering the Truth: The Elusive History of Homosexuality

Thread starter drankin
Start date Nov 20, 2010

AI Thread Summary

The discussion revolves around whether homosexuality is a primal instinct aimed at ensuring species progression or a product of social and cultural biases. Participants argue that social and cultural influences play a significant role, citing historical examples like the Roman Empire, where homosexuality was prevalent but often tied to social hierarchies rather than acceptance. The biological aspect is also debated, with some asserting that homosexuality cannot perpetuate the species directly, while others suggest it may serve evolutionary advantages in certain contexts, such as reducing competition for mates in overpopulated environments.The conversation touches on the complexity of human behavior, suggesting that societal norms and gender roles heavily influence perceptions of homosexuality. Some argue that the fear and intolerance towards homosexuality may stem from deep-rooted biological instincts related to reproduction and social structures. Others propose that the prevalence of homosexuality across cultures indicates a more nuanced understanding of human sexuality that transcends simple biological determinism.

Dec 5, 2010

DaveC426913

Gold Member

dreiter said:

Dave you are officially awesome.

Thanks.

I needed that.

dreiter said:

What I mean is, if homosexuality was vastly more prevalent in ancient Rome, or Celtic cultures, etc. and not prevalent during other times of history, can we not say that gayness is a result cultural/social/nurture bias and not genetics?

It would be virtually impossible to determine with any accuracy the prevalence of homosexuality in history. All we have to go on is how much or little it is reported in literature. And that is probably far more determined by the acceptability of authors writing about it than about any actual prevalance. How many people would be willing to out themselves in, say, the Dark Ages?